Ring in the Year of the Dragon with graphic novel superstars Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham’s latest collaboration, Lunar New Year Love Story, Julie Leung and Hanna Cha’s lyrical Caldecott Honor Book, The Truth About Dragons, and more incredible titles!
The Truth About Dragons
The Truth About Dragons by Julie Leung; illustrated by Hanna Cha
A Caldecott Honor Winner
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Ages 4-8
An unforgettable lyrical picture book that celebrates biracial identity from the award-winning author of Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist.
Lean in close,
my darling bao bei,
and I will whisper
a most precious secret
about a powerful magic
that lives inside you.
Brought to life with lavish and ornate illustrations, The Truth About Dragons follows a young child on a journey guided by his mother’s bedtime storytelling. He quests into two very different forests, as his two grandmothers help him discover two different, but equally enchanting, truths about dragons. Eastern and Western mythologies coexist and enrich each other in this warm celebration of mixed cultural identity.
Praise for The Truth About Dragons
★ “The remarkable wording infused into spreads of dynamic colors makes this enchanting story a true gift in the world of children’s literature . . . A must-have book to place on every library shelf where literary pathways will open up young children’s minds as they discover their own hidden truths”—School Library Journal, starred review
“A beautifully illustrated celebration of biracial identity.”—Booklist
Lunar New Year Love Story
Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham
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Ages 14-18
Graphic novel superstars Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham join forces in this heartwarming rom-com about fate, family, and falling in love.
She was destined for heartbreak. Then fate handed her love.
Val is ready to give up on love. It’s led to nothing but secrets and heartbreak, and she’s pretty sure she’s cursed—no one in her family, for generations, has ever had any luck with love.
But then a chance encounter with a pair of cute lion dancers sparks something in Val. Is it real love? Could this be her chance to break the family curse? Or is she destined to live with a broken heart forever?
Eight starred reviews for Lunar New Year Love Story!
The reviews are written in the stars for Lunar New Year Love Story! With eight starred reviews, the praise has been pouring in!
★ “Valentina’s quest is full of swoony moments that will satisfy romance readers, while her fearless journey of personal growth will win over everyone else . . . a sparkling romance anchored by a poignant coming-of-age story.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “Yang’s storytelling is a multigenerational, multilayered, multicultural masterpiece of searching for lasting, empathic connection.”—Booklist, starred review
★ “Poignant moments amplified by evocatively colored digitally rendered panels address deep issues of parental abandonment and grief, while interjections of comic relief and a riveting subplot surrounding lion dancing result in a well-paced, well-balanced dual effort.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ “A positive and beautiful work of art that will make an impression on readers.”—School Library Journal, starred review
★ “Yang and Pham do a wonderful job of weaving fractured families and romantic yearning with fantasy elements that show emotional states and growth, with plenty of humor throughout.”—Horn Book, starred review
★ “This touching and entertaining YA graphic novel follows an endearing Vietnamese American teen who desperately seeks true love despite her family’s history of tragic romances . . . LeUyen Pham brings remarkable depth to Yang’s heartfelt story through her digital illustrations. Throughout, beautiful spreads evoke the flouncing effects of the intricate costumes.”—Shelf Awareness, starred review
★ “Pham’s stylish embrace of magical realism and the multicultural, multigenerational connectivity of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean lion dancing results in evocative, dynamic panel layouts that visually meld Yang’s layered themes and melt a reader’s heart. Graphic novel lovers who find themselves immersed in richly illustrated, culturally resonant intergenerational stories . . . will be unable to resist the intricate dance between love, grief, and learning staged in this fiercely empathetic instant classic.”—BCCB, starred review
★ “Like the traditional Lion Dancers featured in their gorgeous Lunar New Year Love Story, graphic novel veterans Gene Luen Yang and LeUyen Pham combine their considerable skills, bringing a tender love story to life. Yang’s writing and Pham’s illustrations blend seamlessly to introduce readers to Vietnamese American Val (short for Valentina) and her on-again, off-again relationship with love”—BookPage, starred review
More Books to Celebrate Lunar New Year
More Books to Celebrate Lunar New Year:
Tomorrow Is New Year’s Day: Seollal, a Korean Celebration of the Lunar New Year by Aram Kim
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Ages 4-8
From Korean American author-illustrator Aram Kim, Tomorrow is New Year’s Day follows a little girl sharing the fun customs of Seollal—the Korean Lunar New Year—with her classmates.
Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, is Mina’s favorite day of the year.
Mina can’t wait to share the customs of Seollal with all of her friends at school. She will show her classmates her colorful hanbok, demonstrate how to do sebae, and then everyone will make tasty tteokguk in the cooking room. Yum! Her little brother may even join in on the fun . . . if he can find a way out of his bad mood.
In this joyful book about sharing age-old cultural celebrations with new friends, Aram Kim has created a must-have book for the New Year’s season. A glossary of Korean terms, with pronunciation guide, is included.
Download the Tomorrow Is New Year’s Day activity kit here.
Praise for Tomorrow Is New Year’s Day
“This title is a simple, warmhearted introduction to Seollal, and is another example of Kim’s skill at spotlighting Korean culture in an inviting and accessible way . . . A sweet story, filled with goodwill, of one girl and her family generously sharing their traditions with others.”—School Library Journal
Boys Don’t Fry by Kimberly Lee; illustrated by Charlene Chua
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Ages 4-6
Jin wishes his family would ask him to help prepare the Lunar New Year feast. But boys, or Babas, never get asked—only Nyonyas, the girls.
It’s the eve of Lunar New Year, and Jin can’t wait for the big family reunion dinner. He loves the aromas and the bubbly chatter coming from the kitchen. His grandmother, Mamah, is cooking up a storm!
As his aunties dice, slice, and chop, there’s nothing Jin wants more than to learn about the history of his family’s cooking and to lend them a helping hand. After all, no one else can tell the difference between ginger and galangal as well as he can! But his aunties shoo him away, claiming he’ll just get bored or be in the way. Luckily, Mamah steps in and asks Jin to help her prepare their special meal. Soon, Jin is squeezing, slicing, and stirring, too!
This loving picture book about a young Malaysian boy who defies gender expectations will make hearts warm and stomachs hungry. With beautifully vibrant illustrations of a traditional nyonya kitchen, Boys Don’t Fry is a heartfelt celebration of family, culture, and traditions—both old and new.
Praise for Boys Don’t Fry
“Delicious and affirming.” —Kirkus Reviews
“This heartwarming picture book centers on a boy wanting to help his grandma cook the Lunar New Year feast and beats down stereotypes with a mighty whisk.” —School Library Journal
“Mouthwatering word choices and exuberant digital illustrations draw readers into their Malaysian Lunar New Year celebration . . . this gentle challenge to gender stereotypes is a welcome addition to holiday shelves.” —Booklist
Friends Are Friends, Forever by Dane Liu; illustrated by Lynn Scurfield
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A picture book based on the author’s own immigration story, the infinite impact of friendship, and passing on love and kindness around the world.
On a snowy Lunar New Year’s Eve in Northeastern China, it’s Dandan’s last night with Yueyue. Tomorrow, she moves to America. The two best friends have a favorite wintertime tradition: crafting paper-cut snowflakes, freezing them outside, and hanging them as ornaments.
As they say goodbye, Yueyue presses red paper and a spool of thread into Dandan’s hands so that she can carry on their tradition. But in her new home, Dandan has no one to enjoy the gift with—until a friend comes along.
Welcome to Chinatown by William Low; illustrations by William Low
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Welcome to Chinatown. There is so much to see. People practicing tai-chi, shoe cobblers, rows of herbs, outdoor fish markets, and more. And best of all, when the Lunar New Year begins, there’s a New Year’s Day parade, complete with a lion dance.
This bilingual board book adaptation of William Low’s Chinatown is a feast for the eyes and a celebration of the ordinary and the spectacular.
